What does it sound like?:
A traditional blues title for a traditional dirty blues stomping set of songs highlighting the usual underworld characters of Steve Earle, whose lived a hard- nosed blues life himself. Less of the country-tinged themes of the last few albums, the Dukes rock out – would sound great live!
What does it all *mean*?
White men can sing the blues afterall!
Goes well with…
Drink, Drink, a Drink….with a bourbon chaser
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Da blues
I love Steve Earle but must admit the last two or three (maybe even five?) have been filed under “so so”.
Is this one worth yet more investment?
If you like Steve Earle you`ll like his newie, if you are thinking of starting your S.E. collection of with this don`t.
I’m very much looking forward to this.
He’s a favourite of mine and has been for years, never makes the same album twice.
Last few years’ wise, I wasn’t mad keen on WSS, but the last album was top drawer.
I think this is a great album. Earle has done the blues often but never a whole album of electric blues….wonderful! Obviously, he’s going through a divorce and that made me think he was singing about himself, but I don’t believe that now after a good few listens…just another lot of characters from his imagination. On the DVD he does 2 of the songs solo acoustic. He also does “So Different Blues” acoustic. This is a Mance Lipscolm song. I remember years ago , when part of his setlist was to tell a story about Mance and Lightning Hopkins and then play Lightning’s “Automobile Blues” followed by Mance’s “So Different Blues”.
Probably hard to find a Steve Earle album where he wasn’t going through a divorce! I’m a huge fan, but gave up 4 or 5 albums ago. I was buying them, playing once to rip, acknowledging that it was pretty good, but similar to last one and then never again.
I always think I have too much of the bearded romantic, and then I hear a song or 2, in this case the one on the Uncut best of the new coverdisc, which makes me think I could stomach more. Having said that, Allison Moorer, his most recent ex-wife, has apparently pulled out all her confessional plugs and has supposedly produced a career highlight. I have always liked her, bar her insipid covers LP, but I feel that would be taking sides. (Mind you, the rellies on Allisons side are better looking, Shelby vs Stacey)
Listened twice now and pretty good it is. But would I have given it another listen if it was an unknown artist? The answer is a definite nope…
just bought it but haven’t heard it yet . Thought his last album was an excellent return to form after the limp home recorded stuff when he set up house in NYC with Allison.
Saw him last year with the Mastersons and was quite disappointed with the show- would have preferred the old Dukes. He seemed flat perhaps it was failed marriage number 7 .
Well played it a coupla times and I’m a bit underwhelmed.
Couple of really good songs especially Better Off Alone .Made me feel a bit sad for old Steve though after 7 marriages maybe he is right. Interestingly a few songs about picking up women and how downtown girls are the best .
Seems like a few guys having a good time belting out a few songs. I was underwhelmed (that word again) by Chris Masterson on guitar live and it is the same on this record. It says Steve and the Dukes on the tin but for mine it aint the Dukes.
From what I read above it sounds like Allison Moorer has creatively benefitted from the break up.